AMHERST, Ohio -- The third in a series of U.S. military tribute murals is nearing completion on the side of a brick building in downtown Amherst. It will be dedicated in ceremonies on November 11, Veterans Day.

The latest work created by artist Mike Sekletar, 39, of Amherst, depicts the various services involved in the Korean War (1950-1953).

Previous murals painted on the wall by Sekletar include a reproduction of the famous Joe Rosenthal photograph of the flag-raising on Iwo Jima during World War II, completed in 2011.

A plaque at the first mural set the tone for those that followed, reading: "We will never forget the courage, honor and sacrifice of the men and women who served our country for our freedom."

The Korean War mural fits between the other two, creating a historic timeline of salutes to America's veterans. It will be dedicated at 11 a.m. at the site, 248 Park Avenue.

The artist's father, John Sekletar, a Navy veteran of the Vietnam war, noted the Korean War mural is the first original design on the wall.

"It fits perfectly between the other two," he said. "It's as big as the Iwo Jima mural, but quite a bit different."

When finished, the work will have taken about three weeks for Sekletar, assisted by Brian Goodwin, to complete.

The artist, who usually does custom paintings, murals and signs, said he wanted to highlight various aspects of the U.S. military involvement in Korea -- hence the depictions of a nurse, combat soldiers, aircraft and a battleship.

One of the soldiers depicted, a man driving a Jeep, was taken from a LIFE magazine photo of Lou Repko, a GI from Lorain, Sekletar said.

After preparing the design, Sekletar projected it on the wall, then outlined the areas to be painted.

In comparing this work to the others, he said, "The Iwo Jima took me longer because I'd never done it before, never painted something to that scale.

"The 'Reflections' one was a challenge because I was trying to duplicate a real painting, and there were a lot of tricky things going on in it," he noted.

"The Korean one was a little easier to manage because I had several pictures going on so I was able to work in one area at a time and focus on that. The hardest part has been the battleship because there are so many details -- guns and all kinds of stuff," he said.

Plus, there's his father's attention to those particular details. "Being a Navy guy, I want the battleship just right," Sekletar quipped.

The reaction from passersby as the mural nears completion has been positive, he said.

"There have been several Korean War vets come over and tell us what a good job we're doing, and how they appreciate it," he said.

Donations have covered the cost of materials and some of the artist's time.

"I'm happy with it," Sekletar said. "It's really action-packed. There are a lot of things going on in it."

There is enough space at the end of the building for another mural, possibly dealing with Desert Storm or the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sekletar hasn't decided. "I'm not sure yet, but if I do something, it would have to be that," he said.